Deck lid lock



May 4, 1954 T. VIGMOSTAD 2,677,262

DECK LID LOCK Filed May 6, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. 77:;3/6 @Masiad B Y 'QZMLW W May 4, 1954 T. VIGMOSTAD 2,677,262

DECK LID LOCK Filed May 6, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. 7?;{5/6 l z g/vaa-z dd Patented May 4, 1954 rsr DECK LID LOCK Application May 6, 1950, Serial No. 160,485

Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved selflatching lock of the type which is particularly but not exclusively adapted for use in latching an automobile rear deck lid in the closed position. This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants copending application filed March 4, 1950, Serial No. 147,593.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved. latch mechanism for a swinging closure, such as the rear deck lid of an automobile body, wherein a pair of latch members on the closure are positively shifted into latchin engagement with a fixed keeper on the body by the action of a shiftable striker member which engages the keeper as the closure is swung to its closed position, the latch members being held in latching positions by means of a sprin urged detent or dogging device which automatically moves into dogging position with respect to the latch members when the latter reach their latching positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved latch mechanism of the foregoing construction wherein key controlled means, including a cylinder lock, is rotatable in either direction from a locked position to shift and hold the detent or dogging device out of dogging position, thereby permitting disengagement of the latch members from the keeper, the construction being such that when the key controlled means is rotated to the locked position by turning the key I in the cylinder lock, the detent or dogging dean improved latch mechanism for a swinging lid or closure comprising a pair of latch members pivotally mounted on the lid or closure to swing oppositely to each other about a common axis and havin latching portions swingable into latching engagement with a keeper structure at opposite sides thereof, this latching operation of the latch members being accomplished by means of a striker or pusher member slidably mounted on the lid and interposed between the latch members and connected thereto in such manner that when the striker or pushemember engages the keeper structure upon closing the the latching portions or" the latch members will be swung toward each other by the striker or pusher memher into holding positions with respect to the keeper structure. The latch members are preferably provided with arm portions adapted to be swung apart when the latch members are engaged with the keeper structure, said latch members being positively held in latchin positions by means of a detent or dogging device shiftable by the action of spring means into dogging position with respect to the arm portions of the latch members and adapted to be shifted out of dogging position by a key controlled locking device.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Details of a preferred embodiment of the present invention are illustrated by way of example in the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section through the latch housing, taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the broken line li of Fig. 3, showin the latching mechanism as employed to latch an automobile rear deck lid to the vehicle body.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the latching mechanism in unlatched position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the line 43 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section alon the top edge of the detent or do ging device, taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the latch members and latch pusher or striker device, taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. a

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and. not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings, a fragmentary rear portion of an automobile body, indicated generally by the letter A, is shown having a rear deck lid B hinged at its upper-end to the body A in accordance with conventional practice. In the present instance the lid 3 is formed from suitably spaced and reinforced outer and inner sheet metal panels ill and 52 respectively, Fig. 3, the panel 52 having a bottom rearward extending flange is secured to the lower portion of the panel ill. Raising and lowering of the lid, B is facili- 3 tated by means of a handle member l6 secured at ill to the panel [0.

The latch structure embodying the present invention includes a housing comprising in the present instance front and rear sheet metal case plates 20 and 22 spaced apart and formed to house the latch mechanism therebetween. The case plate 20 is rovided with marginal flanges 24 overlapping marginal flanges 26 on the plate 22, the parts being held against separation by a plurality of tabs 28 on the flanges 26 projecting through slots in the edges of the plate 20 and bent snugly against the outer surface thereof. The housing 20, 22 comprises an enlarged lower portion to receive a pair of latching members, indicated generally at 30 and 32, and a reduced upper extension to receive a vertically movable key controlled detent or dogging member 34. The housing is suitably fastened in a vertical position to the central portion of the panel 12 by a plurality of bolts 36 extending through the plates 26, 22 and panel l2 and secured by a corresponding plurality of nuts 38. The bottom of the housing lies substantially flush with the flange I4 and projects into an opening 40 in the latter.

In the present instance, the latch members 30 and 32 comprise identical three-armed members pivotally mounted on a common bushing 42 in reversed relation with respect to each other so as to swing transversely of the vehicle body A between latching and unlatching positions, Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, the member 32 being spaced axially forward from the member 353, Fig. 3. The bushing 42 is supported on a horizontal rivet 44 extending coaxially therethrough and through holes 46 and 48 in the case plates 20 and 22 re spectively.

The latch members 30 and 32 are provided with pivot holes 30a and 32a respectively through which the bushing 42 extends and are also provided with lateral striker or pusher operated arms 30b and 32b extending in crossed relation, up-

wardly extending detent engaging arms 38c and 32c, and downwardly extending keeper engaging arms 30d and 32d.

The detent engaging arms 30c and 320 extend generally upward from opposite sides of the pivot axis and curve inward toward each other at their upper ends, terminating in detent engaging flanges 30c and 32e which extend forward. and rearward respectively from their associated arms so as to oppose each other in the latching position, Fig. l.

The striker engaging arms 30d and 32d. extend generally downward from the arms 30c and 320 respectively and terminate in forward and rearward extending jaws 30f and 32f respectively on opposite sides of the pivot axis. The latter also extend angularly downward toward each other through laterally spaced openings 54 and 52 respectively within the lapping flanges 24, 26 at the bottom of the latch housing so as to engage the under sides of a V-shaped keeper therebetween. The arms 39b and 32b extend generally horizontally across the pivot axis and terminate respectively in forward and rearward extending pusher or striker engaging flanges 32g and 32g.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the latch members 30, 32 are spaced axially by a vertically slidable latch operating striker or pusher 54 provided with a vertical movement limiting slot 58 and slidably mounted on the bushing 42 extending through the slot 56. Also located on the bushing 42 and spacing the striker or pusher 54 from the adja cent members 30 and 32 respectively are a pair of washers 58 and 60. Below the bushing 42, the body of the striker 54 extends downward as a generally rectangular tongue through an opening 62 in the bottom portions of the lapping flanges 24, 25 and terminates in chamfered lower corner portions. Above the slot 56, the body of the striker or pusher 54 is formed with spring retaining shoulders 64 and a reduced vertical guide extension 66. This guide extension passes upward through an opening within a fixed horizontal guide 68, which is lanced forwardly from the body of the case plate 22, Fig. 3, and anchored in the case plate 20, see Fig. 4. Coiled around the guide extension 66 and interposed under compression between the underside of the fixed guide 58 and the shoulders 64 is a spring '10 normally urging the latch pusher or striker 54 downwardly relative to the housing to an unlatching position. Integral with the pusher member 54 are a pair of horizontal lateral arms 12 and 14 extending in opposite directions and having laterally opening notches l6 and 18 respectively into which project the forward and rearward extending latch member flanges 30g and 32g respectively. Accordingly pivotal movement of the latch members 30, 32 to and from their latching positions is effected in unison with upward and downward sliding movement respectively of the latch pusher or striker 54.

The disposition and dimensions of the latch members 30, 32 and latch pusher 54 are determined so that when the latter is moved downward by the spring iii to the limit permitted by the upper extremity of the slot 56, the horizontal arms 30b, 321) will be swung downward about the axis of the bushing 42 to the unlatching position, Fig. 2, by virtue of the flanges 30g, 32g engaged within the notches T6, 18 of the arms 12, 14 respectively. In this position the flanges 30c, 32c will be swung together and the jaws 30f, 32f will be swung upward and away from each other. Upon upward movement of the pusher 54, the arms 36b, 32b will be swung in a reverse direction to the latching position of Fig. 1, pivoting the jaws 32 32 downward and toward each other and the flanges 39c, 32c away from each other. Thus in the latching position of the members 30, 32, the flanges 30c, 32e are spaced sufiiciently to receive the lower portion of the vertically sliding detent or dogging member 34 which is dimensioned at its lower end to fit snugly between the spaced flanges Bile, 32c and to hold the same positively in their spaced latching positions.

The body of the detent or dogging member 34 extends upward within the housing 29, 22 and is provided with a vertical slot 89 and a spring retainer 82 projecting vertically from the lower edge of the slot 53. One of the bolts 36 and a coaxial sleeve spacer 83 thereon are adapted to ride in the slot upon vertical sliding movement of the detent 34. Lateral movement of the lower end of the member 34 is prevented by a pair of horizontal guides 84 lanced forwardly from the body of the case plate 22 adjacent opposite sides of the member 34, Figs. 1 and 2, to guide the same in vertical sliding movement. The member 34 is also held against forward and rearward movement by lateral flanges 36 bent forward from both its upper and lower edges, so as to ride vertically along the plate 20, and lateral flanges 88 bent rearward from both its upper and lower edges intermediate the flanges 36, so as to ride along the plate 22.

Lanced inwardly from the body of the case plate 22 is a fixed horizontal guide and spring ment between the interlocking elements when the automobile is driven over rough roads.

I claim:

1. A latch mechanism for a swinging closure, comprising a support mounted on the closure, a pair of latch members pivotally mounted on the support and having spaced keeper engaging portions swingable toward and from each other, a striker member slidably mounted on the support and projecting into position to engage a fixed structure and to be shifted thereby relative to the support when the closure is swung to its closed position, connections between said striker member and latch members effective to swing said keeper engaging portions toward each other into latching engagement with a keeper when said striker member is shifted relative to the support by engagement with said structure, said latch members having detent engaging portions movable away from each other when said keeper engaging portions are swung toward each other, a spring urged slide on the support having de tent means movable between said detent engaging portions for holding the latch members in latching positions, pivotal cam means mounted on the support and having slide engaging portions on. opposite sides of its pivot axis, the slide engaging portion on one side of the pivot axis being engageable with the slide to move said detent means out of position between said detent engaging portions upon pivoting of the cam means in one direction and the slide engaging portion on the other side of the pivot axis being similarly engageable with the slide upon pivoting of the cam means in the other direction, and key controlled means for pivoting the cam means.

2. A latch mechanism for a swinging closure, comprising a support mounted on the closure, a pair of latch members pivotally mounted on the support and having spaced keeper engaging portions swingable toward each other into latching engagement with a keeper when the closure is in closed position and being swingable away from each other out of said latching engagement, a striker member mounted on the support for sliding to and from a projecting position and being engageable thereat with a fixed structure to be shifted thereby from said position relative to the support when the closure is swung to its closed position, connections between said striker member and latch members effective to swing said keeper engaging portions toward or from each other upon shifting of said striker member respectively relative to the support from or to the projecting position, said latch members having detent engaging portions movable away from each other when said keeper engaging portions are swung toward each other, a detent member slidable on the support to and from a detent position between said detent engaging portions for holding said latch members in latching positions, spring means yieldingly urging the detent member to the detent position, pivotal cam means having bearing portions journaled on the support and having paired radial extensions engageable with the detent member at spaced locations on opposite sides of the pivot axis to slide the detent member from the detent position upon pivoting of the cam means in either direction about said axis, a shaft having one end splined coaxially to said cam for pivoting therewith, a rotatable key operated cylinder mounted on said closure, the other end of said shaft being connected with said cylinder to rotate therewith.

3. A latch mechanism for a swinging closure, comprising a support adapted to be mounted on said closure, a striker shiftably mounted on the support and engageable with one side of a keeper to be shifted in one direction thereby relative to the support when the closure is swung to closed position, spring means yieldingly urging shifting movement of the striker oppositely to said one direction, a latch device having an arm terminating in a jaw and being pivoted on the support to swing the jaw to and from a position of latching engagement with another side of the keeper in opposition to the striker, said device having a detent engaging arm extending generally oppositely from said first arm and also having a radial striker engaging arm intermediate said first two arms, means connecting said striker and striker engaging arm to swing said jaw into said latching engagement with the keeper upon relative shifting of the striker in said one direction, a detent member slidably mounted on the support for moving to and from a detent position in the path of swinging movement of the detent engaging arm to hold said latch device in latching position, spring means yieldingly urging the detent member to the detent position, and pivotal cam means having bearing portions journaled on the support and having detent engaging portions on opposite sides of its pivot axis, the detent engaging portion on one side of the pivot axis being engageable with the detent member to move the same from the detent position upon pivoting of the cam means in one direction, and the detent engaging portion on the other side of the pivot axis being similarly engageable with the detent member upon pivoting of the cam means in the other direction, a shaft coaxial with said cam means and having one end splined to said cam means for pivoting the latter, a rotatable key operated device mounted on said closure, the other end of the shaft being connected with said device to be rotated thereby.

4. A latch mechanism for a swinging closure, comprising a support adapted to be mounted on said closure, a pair of latch members pivotally mounted on said support to swing about a common axis and having spaced latch portions cooperable with a keeper device, a striker member shiftably mounted on said support and adapted to be shifted in one direction relatively to the support by engagement with said keeper device when said closure is swung to closed position, spring means yieldingly urging shifting of said striker member oppositely to said one direction, means for connecting said striker member to said latch members to cause said striker member when shifted relatively to the support by engagement with the keeper device to swing said latch portions into latching engagement with said keeper device, and spring urged dogging means mounted on said support for holding said latch members in latching positions.

5. A latch mechanism for a swinging closure, comprising a support mounted on the closure, a pair of latch members pivotally mounted on the support and having spaced keeper engaging portions swingable toward each other into latching engagement with a keeper when the closure is in closed position and being swingable away from each other out of said latching engagement, a striker member mounted on the support for sliding to and. from a projecting position and being engageable thereat with a fixed structure to be shifted therebyv from said position relative to the support when the closure is swung to its closed position, connections between said striker member and latch members effective to swing said keeper engaging portions toward or from each other upon shifting of said striker member respectively relative to the support from or to the projecting position, said latch members having detent engaging portions movabie away from each other when said keeper engaging portions are swung toward each other, and detent means on the support movable into position between and in abutting relation to said detent engaging portions for holding said latch members in latching positions.

6. A latch mechanism for a swinging closure, comprising a support mounted. on the closure, a pair of latch members pivotally mounted on the support and having spaced keeper engaging portions swingable toward and from each other, a striker member mounted on the support for sliding to and from a projecting position and being engageable at said position with a fixed structure to be shifted thereby from said position relative to the support when the closure is swung to its closed position, connections between said striker member and latch members effective to swing said keeper engaging portions toward or from each other upon shifting of said striker member respectively relative to the support from or to said projecting position, said latch members having detent engaging portions movable away from each other when said keeper engaging portions are swung toward each other, and a spring urged slide on the support having detent means movable into position between and in abutting relation to said detent engaging portions for holding the latch members in latching positions.

'7. A latch mechanism for a swinging closure, comprising a support mounted on the closure, a pair of latch members pivotally mounted on the support and having spaced keeper engaging portions swingable toward and from each other, a striker member mounted on the support for sliding to and from a projecting position and being engageable at said position with a fixed structure to be shifted thereby from said position relative to the support when the closure is swung to its closed position, connections between said striker member and latch members eifective to swing said keeper engaging portions toward or from each other upon shifting of said striker member respectively relative to the support from or to said projecting position, said latch members having detent engaging portions movable away f om each other when said keeper engaging portions are swung toward each other, a spring urged slide on the support having detent means movable into position between and in abutting relation to said detent engaging portions for holding the latch members in latching positions, rotatable cam means for shifting said slide in one direction to move said detent means out of position between said detent engaging portions.

8. A latch mechanism for a swinging closure, comprising supporting means adapted to be mounted on the closure, a pair of latch members pivotally mounted on the supporting means and having spaced keeper engaging portions cooperable with a keeper, a striker member shiftably mounted on said supporting means and adapted to be shifted relatively thereto by engagement with said keeper when said closure is swung to closed position, spring means yieldingly opposing shifting of said striker member when the latter is engaged by the keeper upon swinging of the closure to closed position, interengaged portions of said striker member and latch members for swinging the latter into engagement with said keeper when said striker member is shifted relatively to said supporting means by engagement with said keeper, and dogging means mounted on said supporting means for holding said latch members in latching positions.

9. A latch mechanism for a swinging closure, comprising supporting means adapted to be mounted on said closure, a pair of latch members pivoted on said supporting means to swing about a common pivot axis, each latch member having a jaw portion and a striker engaging portion spaced by said pivot axis, each jaw portion being on the opposite side of the pivot axis from the jaw portion of the other latch member and being cooperable with a keeper, a striker member shiftably mounted on said supporting means and adapted to be shifted in one direction relatively to said supporting means by engagement with said keeper when said closure is swung to closed position, spring means yieldingly urging shifting of said striker member oppositely to said one direction, means connecting said striker member with said striker engaging portions to swing said latch members into engagement with said keeper when said striker member is shifted relatively to said supporting means by engagement with said keeper, and dogging means shiftably mounted on said supporting means for shifting into the paths of movement of said latch members from their latching positions.

10. A latch mechanism for a swinging closure, comprising supporting means adapted to be mounted on said closure, a pair of latch members pivoted on said supporting means to swing about a common pivot axis, each latch member having a jaw portion and a striker engaging portion spaced by said pivot axis, each jaw portion being on the opposite side of the pivot axis from the jaw portion of the other latch member and being cooperable with a keeper, a striker member shiftably mounted on said supporting means and adapted to be shifted relatively to said supporting means by engagement with said keeper when said closure is swung to closed position, means connecting said striker member with said striker engaging portions to swing said latch members into engagement with said keeper when said striker member is shifted relatively to said supporting means by engagement with said keeper, and dogging means shiftably mounted on said supporting means for shifting into the paths of movement of said latch members from their latching positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 349,514 Monahan Sept. 21, 1886 483,318 Armstrong Sept. 2'7, 1892 621,574 Kinsey Mar. 21, 1899 689,074 Ferris Dec, 1'2, 1991 829,180 Sweet Aug. 21, 1996 1,143,653 Smith June 22, 1915 1,334,852 Gorowitz Mar. 23, 1920 1,414,862 Colavita May 2, 1922 1,658,854 Nobile Feb. 14, 1928 2,454,920 Heinernan Nov. 30, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 42,177 France Mar. '7, 1933 84,928 Austria Julv 25. 1921 

